The steady downsizing and restructuring of much of the federal
government has brought changes to the NPS archeological assistance division,
as it has to many other offices concerned with archeology and historic preservation.
In this case, the change involves the reestablishment of a connection broken
a generation ago. The National Park Service functions of providing leadership
and coordination for federal archeology—the focus of AAD and its regional offices—have
been combined with the park archeology and ethnography functions previously
carried out by the anthropology division. The result is a new entity, the Archeology Program.

This combination reunites two aspects of the NPS archeological
program divided in 1973. At that time, the park archeology function, along with
the other park system historic preservation disciplines, were removed from the
NPS office of archeology and historic preservation. As a result, OAHP and its
archeological branch, interagency archeological services, strengthened its focus
on the nation's preservation needs beyond the park system. To that end, OAHP
gathered NPS archeologists, historians, and historical architects into a unit
that moved forcefully and effectively to broaden and intensify the federal and
state commitment to archeology and historic preservation.

Now we have come full circle to a recombination of the functions
split in the early 1970s. Of course, the program in 1995 is much different from
the program in 1973.

For one thing, the Park Service now has a strong ethnography
function, introduced in 1981. As part of the program realignment, we aim to
reinforce this function by developing databases, encouraging cooperative research,
fostering consultation with native peoples, and promoting sound interpretation
in the interest of informing decisions about park resources. To accomplish this
goal, NPS cultural anthropologists will work closely with planners, managers,
and communities to identify cultural and natural resources that have continuing
significance for present-day peoples.

For another thing, the park system archeology functions have
changed since the ‘70s. Then, the focus was on excavation and fieldwork. Now,
although there is still fieldwork, excavation is less extensive, usually limited
to identifying, evaluating, and recovering data during park construction projects.
The focus is much more on surveying sites, inventorying resources, and managing
information.

Likewise, the archeological leadership and coordination function
has changed. No longer is supervising contracts for archeological investigations
a main focus. More likely activities include improving information exchange
(for example, by promoting and building the National Archeological Database),
coordinating interagency initiatives, working with others on public outreach,
and providing the means, such as through this quarterly, to encourage communication
among the community interested in archeology and historic preservation.

We have received strong support from the Director and other
senior Park Service officials to continue all of the basic functions and activities
carried out by NPS archeology and ethnography in recent years. We are committed
to increasing cooperation with partners in other agencies and like-minded organizations
at all levels. There is a renewed emphasis on professionalism, on scholarship,
and on scientific information to improve resource management, research, interpretation,
data management, and other essential activities.

Here at the national center, our efforts to contribute to these
endeavors will include fostering communication and cooperation among Park Service
field offices, especially among archeologists, ethnographers, and other preservation
professionals in parks, centers, and system support and field offices. Our goal
will be to enhance the abilities of the broad network of NPS professionals to
protect, preserve, and interpret archeological and ethnographic resources within
and beyond park boundaries. The program emphasis, though broadened, will continue
to focus on effective cultural resource management, through resource protection,
public outreach, interagency cooperation, and information exchange.

As evidence of our broadened perspective, watch for the retitled
Federal Archeology in the next issue. Common Ground: Archeology and Ethnography
in the Public Interest will be coming soon to a mailbox near you!